Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s regular bail application in a money laundering case related to the alleged excise policy fraud has been adjourned for June 19 by a Delhi court. The Rouse Avenue Court’s Special Judge Kaveri Baweja issued the decision in response to Kejriwal’s recent interim bail plea dismissal, in which he had requested temporary release due to medical concerns.
Request for Wife’s Participation in Medical Check-up via Video Conference
Kejriwal’s legal team asked the jail administration on Friday to allow his wife Sunita Kejriwal to attend in his check-up by video conference. They also asked for Kejriwal to be given the opportunity to participate to the board’s discussions.
Court Seeks Response on Application; Further Hearings Scheduled
The Tihar Jail Superintendent has been requested by the court to respond to this application, and further sessions are set for this Saturday. Kejriwal’s regular bail plea is scheduled for June 19, which is also the date that his current judicial custody expires.
Judge Baweja Denies Interim Bail; Extends Judicial Custody
Judge Baweja had already denied Kejriwal’s temporary release, citing the necessity for particular diagnostic testing, which the Chief Minister Kejriwal attended over video conference from Tihar Jail. The court had granted him an extension of judicial custody until June 19.
ED Officials Reject Bail Plea; Allegations of Misuse
ED officials, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, rejected Kejriwal’s bail request. They claimed that Kejriwal’s actions were inappropriate and that interim bail was being utilized improperly for political purposes. In response, Kejriwal’s defence team, headed by senior attorney N. Hariharan, claimed that the temporary bail was necessary due to his worsened diabetes and other medical conditions.
Defence Cites Health Issues for Interim Bail Request
The ED argued that Kejriwal could have his medical checks done inside the jail, claiming he was trying to avoid making a legal surrender. After his temporary bail, granted by the Supreme Court during the general elections, expired on June 1, Kejriwal turned himself in to the authorities at Tihar Jail on June 2.